Ever have days when all your energy is spent… with little to no reason? We’re looking at 15 reasons that happens—and the cures.
Have you ever heard someone complain about being dead tired from studying or solving a really hard math problem? That’s because mental processes can take a chunk out of your energy, just as much as when you do something physical.
It’s the same with your emotions. When your mind is taking on too much information or too many sensations, it’s working twice as hard to maintain a semblance of normalcy for your body.
Emotions can get pretty heavy, sometimes, and your mind can’t take the pressure. That’s when your body starts to reflect the effects of processing your emotions.
This is why you feel emotionally drained; your mind and body are taking on too much, and the only way for you to fix it is to solve why you’re feeling that way.
What makes you feel emotionally drained?
There are many reasons why your emotions are throwing you for a loop. The problem is, most people can’t pinpoint the cause. This is, largely, because they are so used to approaching things the same way. They don’t realize that their routines are causing them to feel mentally tired. Here are some examples.
#1 Indulging bad relationships. A lot of times, our emotions are influenced by the people we interact with. Conflicts will arise and there’s not much you can do about your initial feelings and reactions. How you continue to deal with it, however, will determine your emotional stability. [Read: 12 ways to ignore people who mentally stress you out]
a. Romantic relationships. A toxic relationship with your significant other can drain you emotionally, because you exert too much effort just keeping it afloat.
b. Social relationships. Some people can drain you emotionally because you’re forced to give your attention to them, when you’re spread too thin already. It is necessary to maintain your friendships, but sometimes the friends we choose can be more than we can handle.
c. Familial relationships. These are the relationships that you were born with. Pushing them out of your life can be emotionally taxing, but being in an unhealthy relationship may be just as hazardous.
#2 Taking on too much. Even though you think you can handle a lot of tasks physically, mental and emotional strain will also take their toll. Even if you’re not consciously investing your feelings in the matter, your emotions can be affected by the stress.
#3 Not doing enough for yourself. When you fail to reward yourself or do things that benefit you, your emotions can be affected. The part of your brain that feels joy stops functioning properly, because it doesn’t register any rewarding moments. [Read: 13 inspiring ways to bring out the best in yourself]
#4 Reading bad news. There are a lot of bad things happening in the world today. If you start to absorb all those negative feelings, you may feel a strain on your emotions. This is especially true when you feel that you can’t do anything to make the world a better place; hopelessness can be the ultimate stressor.
#5 Perfectionism. Being a perfectionist can also drain you emotionally. When you don’t get the level of perfection that you want, you can start to feel bad about your lack of achievement. Letting go of the things you can’t control is a better alternative, while still allowing you to seek perfection where it is possible.
#6 Poor health. When you’re sick, you may be physically incapacitated. The stress of your sickness—or even the stress of being forced to stay in bed—can affect your emotions. When your body feels bad, so does your mind.
#7 Not knowing how and when to say no. When you keep agreeing to things that you don’t want to do, you will undoubtedly feel some sort of resentment. This can manifest through your emotions and, eventually, your energy levels.
#8 Being in a mess. If your bedroom, office space, or even your neighborhood is a mess, the effect of that disorganized environment can seep through to your emotions. That’s why some people feel frustrated when they’re working in a messy or noisy area.
#9 Being dependent on something or someone. Putting all your hopes on something or someone can be dangerous. If you fail to receive the support that you need, or if you fail to acquire the object/situation you want, your disappointment can greatly affect your emotions, leading to a drained or exhaustion sensation. [Read: 15 feel-good secrets to feel better about yourself]
#10 Not doing what makes you happy. When you choose to do things that don’t make you happy, you are sacrificing your ability to find contentment and joy. When you stop feeling these things, your emotions will suffer a huge blow, and you can develop depression as a consequence—a condition frequently associated with exhaustion or lethargy.
How can you change things?
#1 Identify the source. In order to stop feeling emotionally drained, you must first find the main cause of it all. Review the reasons we listed above and see what fits your situation. Once you know where the emotional strain is coming from, you can then take the necessary steps to change.
#2 Communicate with your loved ones. If the problem lies in your relationships, you need to acknowledge the problem and discuss it with those people. It may not be resolved the first time you talk about it, but that first step will go a long way in improving your relationships—and your mental health. [Read: How to find inner peace in a messy relationship]
#3 Put yourself first. You have to start thinking about yourself and what you need to survive. Do what you need to do to achieve your goals, but consider how this will affect those around you, as well. The best way to do this is to delegate your tasks, take time to find what makes you happy, and pursue your dreams.
#4 Change what you can. You can’t control how people think, but you can make small changes that can greatly improve your disposition. You can improve your environment and how you take care of your body. You can also change how you think and react, so that you can communicate better with the people around you.
#5 Find your strength. None of this can be possible if you don’t believe that you can do it. Most of us are limited by what we were taught, like not being able to make a change because of a lack of money or time, or not having supportive people in our life. But that’s the thing: those are just limitations. We can break through boundaries by finding strength in ourselves. If you need a little help, just take a look inside you, and try your hardest; chances are, you’ll see that you are capable of change.
The biggest reason you feel emotionally drained is this: you keep allowing it to happen. When you realize that you can change it, you will feel stronger in your conviction to do so.
[Read: 12 ways to stop negative people from sapping your energy]
By the time you’re done improving your disposition, you will see that you don’t always have to feel so spent and broken down. There is a way to lift up your emotions, beginning with you wanting to change. Whatever happens next depends on what you’re willing to do to rise above your situation.
